Singleton has big plans for Army Bowl

Madison Central (Miss.) four-star wide receiver Tobias Singleton wasn't sure what to expect when the school told him they were having a ceremony to celebrate his invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

But the school pulled out all stops with a full-blown pep rally in Singleton's honor that included the entire football team, cheerleading and dance squads as well as the Jaguar marching band.

"It kind of surprised me," Singleton said. "They caught me off guard today. I wasn't really looking for a pep rally but I had fun getting announced that I am going to be playing in the U.S. Army game."

Singleton will be able to showcase his talents against the top players in the country as well as in front of a national television audience Jan. 8 at noon on NBC.

"There are no nerves," Singleton said. "When you are nervous you tend to mess up or you do things you're not supposed to so I'm just going to go out and play my game."

That day will also be when Singleton lets the nation in on the secret he has been keeping as to which college he will be attending.

"I'm going to make it there and surprise a lot of people," Singleton said. "It's just something that I've always wanted to do. Coming up I used to watch guys make their announcement on there. I wanted to be like them so I want to make my announcement the same way."

This past weekend Singleton took an unofficial visit to Mississippi State and has the Bulldogs on his current list of favorites which also includes Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Georgia and UCLA.

Madison Central head coach Bobby Hall is thrilled to have one of his players be named to the U.S. Army All-American roster marking only the third player from Mississippi to be chosen for the prestigious postseason game. South Panola athlete Nickalos Brassell and Philadelphia linebacker C.J. Johnson were also selected from the Magnolia State.

"It's a phenomenal honor no question," Hall said. "Only three from Mississippi have been selected. It's a national event and they pick the very best football players from throughout the United States of America so to be selected is just a tremendous honor. He's a very gifted young man and we felt very early on that he would have a chance to be a great football player."

Singleton does it all for Madison Central helping the Jaguars to a 9-1 record so far on the season. Singleton has compiled 1,490 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns on the season. He has completed 2-of-3 passing for 13 yards, carried 60 times for 481 yards and seven touchdowns, caught 33 passes for 496 yards and nine more scores.

The 6-foot-2, 187-pounder also handles the return duties for the Jaguars returning 14 punts for 203 yards as well as seven kickoffs for 297 yards including a 96-yard touchdown.

"He's a receiver, kick returner and punt returner," Hall said. "We also run the wildcat where we snap the ball to him so we use him in a variety of different ways and he seems to flourish in all of them."

Singleton was selected first team All-Metro, first team All-State, Metro Player of the Year and was a Preseason Dandy Dozen selection by the Jackson, Miss., Clarion Ledger.

He is also rated the No. 3 prospect in Mississippi, the nation's 12th best receiver and the No. 127 player in the Rivals250.